Time to ring in the new year! Here are some of my favorite children's books of 2014!

YOUNGER READERS:

ALPHABLOCK by Christopher Franceschelli
DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT by Drew Daywalt
FLORA AND THE FLAMINGO by Molly Idle
MR. WUFFLES by David Wiesner
TORTOISE AND THE HARE by Jerry Pinkney

MIDDLE READERS:

BATTLE BUNNY by Jon Scieszka
DOLL BONES by Holly Black
FLORA & ULYSSES: THE ILLUMINATED ADVENTURE by Kate DiCamillo
HOW TO CATCH A BOGLE by Catherine Jinks
P.S. BE ELEVEN by Rita Williams-Garcia

Happy Reading!

And here are some newer titles for Christmas:
BEAR STAYS UP FOR CHRISTMAS by Karma Wilson
LLAMA LLAMA JINGLE BELLS by Anna Dewdney
CHRISTMAS WISH by Lori Evert
CHRISTMAS OWL by Angela Muse

If you are looking for some "oldies but goodies" to read during the Christmas holidays, try:
THE ELF'S HAT by Brigitte Wininger
THE THREE BEARS' CHRISTMAS by Kathy Duval
OLIVE THE OTHER REINDEER by Vivian Walsh
MORRIS'S DISAPPEARING BAG by Rosemary Wells

Just read a charming book entitled FRANNY LOVES FLEABRAIN by Joanne Rocklin. The book takes place in 1952, the year that a polio vaccine was discovered and the year that CHARLOTTE'S WEB was first published. In this story, a young girl named Franny contracts polio and is paralyzed from the waist down. While she is in the hospital, one of the nurses reads CHARLOTTE'S WEB to her and Franny is enchanted with Charlotte - so much so that she wants a Charlotte of her own. Enter Fleabrain, a well-read and very tiny flea who lives on the tail of Franny's dog. Fleabrain takes Franny on many imaginary journeys and helps her to convalesce. He also turns out to be "some flea" . This is a lovely book about disabilities and friendship, not to be missed!

Happy Day! EGGS OVER EVIE just hit the 12,000 mark (meaning it has sold 12,000 copies). This is good news because it means there is a much better chance that Henry Holt will publish my sequel, NEW YEAR'S EVIE. I am currently writing the manuscript, with only one more chapter to go!

Just finished reading RAIN REIGN by Anne Martin (yes, the Babysitter's Club author). It is a very touching story about an autistic girl who is obsessed with prime numbers and homonyms. When her father gives her a stray puppy, she names him Rain Reign. But she eventually discovers that the dog's previous owners are looking for him, and she must make a very difficult decision. The book reminded me very much of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME, especially in addressing the bravery needed for kids like that to venture out into the world and deal with other people. I highly recommend it!

Almost finished with my rewrite of NEW YEAR'S EVIE. In the meantime, my agent in New York is busy sending out my revised versions of HOLES ALL AROUND and BOXES BOXES. Hoping to hear some good news soon!